Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-04-22
A Dangerous Experiment.

April 10, 1887.
The Courier Journal in the discus
sion of the Interstate Commerce Bill
prior to its passage sought to point
out the effect such a measure of re-
striction would have on continental
commence. We insisted that the in
sertion of a prohibition of less charge
for through than for local business
struck at the very basis of our cheap
transportation, and if applied would
shut off the principal markets of the
world out the Western and Southern
producer.
Now it is plain enough. We see
that we have adopted a measure
which, If strictly enforced, will local
lie all commerce. 1t will hedge in
each community as the tariff on i'm
ports shuts out foreign competition.
The railroads are forbidden to carry
freight at low rates from competitive
and long distance points, unless they
agree TO make the same rates from
intermediate points. The transport
tation companies say that this
through business can be handled al
less than the average cost, because it
is additional business, but the regu-
lators insist on like charges, high or
low, on local business.
Nothing is more essential to the
general welfare than ample facilities
for the interchange of products be-
tween the various sections of an ex-
tended country such as ours. Local
markets are soon supplied, and the
wheat raiser or cotton planter who
has gone to the frontier must have
facilities for reaching distant markets
for his products or his laboris thrown
away.
Anything that unnecessarily in
creases the cost of transportation,
anything that actually makes it diff
cult or expensive to exchange wheat
or corn or cotton for, clothes, tools and
building material is a tax on the en-
ergy Of the producer and is harmful
to all classes.
Because this was recognized by the
early pioneers they settled near the
sea coast or followed the water
courses, or when they struck into
the interior they sought some natural
road, or else path where road max
ing was easy. He who has failed to
see the relation of good roads TO the
progress of civilization in this coun-
try has no clear idea of our history.
1t was because the pioneers knew
how transportation increased the val
ne of all products that they did so
much as to construct tnrnpikes and
natural roads. Later this desire for
increased transportation facilities
drew all the Western States into cost
ly, extravagant and RECONSTRUCTED
internal improvements. The railroad
at first made its way slowly, but
when once its importance was recog-
nized the Government could not act
with enough promptness, energy or
Private enterprise, CO.
operative energy, outstripped all gov
ernmental agencies, as in great move
ments it always does, and within fifty
years we have built $4,000 miles of
at cost of $S,OOO,OOO,00O,
and we are carrying merchandise
across the continent at marvellous
ow prices. II is true that taxation
has frequently been invoked to hasten
he work, but aid of this kind has
been costly and has done much to
our politics. The chapter in
III this history that is most discredit-
lble 10 us, as people, is that which
'elates to the subsidized roads to the
Pacific.
In short, this magnificent system of